Even private Hospitals receive payments from Medi-cal/Medicare. In some of the poorest areas of Southern California there are primarily older people, and people who for one reason or another are on Medi-cal, and there are several Catholic Hospitals.
California is a bit different (in my experience), as no one I know has ever been barred from a room or decisions for their partner, even in a Catholic Hospital. When I was unable to make decisions for myself, they were quite happy to let Kasey make them for me.
I imagine this will be a huge fight, and I hope Obama is able to enforce the policy. Only time will tell.
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